Score-based intelligent home energy management (HEM) algorithm for demand response applications and impact of HEM operation on customer comfort

A home energy management (HEM) system plays an important role for residential demand response (DR) applications in the smart grid environment. Its role includes the ability to manage end-use electrical energy (kWh) and demand (kW) based on utility signals, load priorities and customer preference. This study presents a score-based intelligent HEM algorithm for residential DR applications and the impact of the HEM system operation on customer comfort in various HEM decision-making intervals (i.e. 1, 5, 10 and 15 min) at various DR requirements. The proposed algorithm manages selected household loads according to customers´ preset comfort level settings and keeps the total household power consumption below a certain limit. Results indicate that the more stringent DR requirements lead to the higher level of customer comfort violations during a DR event. In addition, the longer HEM decision-making intervals may lead to the higher level of customer comfort violations.